5 signs it’s time to hire a professional CV writer

Take the stress out of writing a professional CV with a little help from those in the know.

There are many reasons why you might turn to a professional CV writer for help with your job search. Perhaps you've been out of the job game for a while and you're ready to get back in. Or maybe you've been applying for vacancies for months and your CV is just not getting the results you want.

Whatever the reason, you don't need to face the search alone. If you fall into one of the following five scenarios, it might be time to turn to the pros.

1. You've been applying for vacancies for weeks but you haven't received any calls

We all know the job search can be long and demanding. You can spend hours every week sending off applications to little or no avail. It doesn't take much for the feelings of stress and self-doubt to start creeping in, which is why you should accept help where you can get it. CV help, that is.

If you've been applying for jobs and you're not getting the responses you want, that’s a good sign that it's time to review your CV. A professional CV writer can provide the unbiased, expert opinion your CV desperately needs. They will tell you what works, remove what doesn't and give you back a shiny, polished CV that's ready for the eyes of your next employer.

2. You're considering a career change

So, you're ready to ditch the job you hate and take the leap towards the job you've always wanted. That's great! But have you told your CV?

If you're changing industries or roles, chances are you may not have the exact experience required for your dream job. This is why a professional CV writer can make all the difference. They will shine the light on your best self, highlighting transferable skills and peppering your CV with keywords to ensure it makes it into the hands of the recruiter (and not stuck in CV cyber-limbo). A professional CV writer has the skills and know-how to format and tailor your CV to fit the new role, giving you your best chance at job-search success.

3. You are new to the workforce, or are returning to work after a long gap

Trends move quickly in the recruitment world. When it comes to writing a professional-grade CV, what may have worked five years ago may not work today. So, if you're returning to the workforce after a long gap or just starting out, a little CV help can go a long way.

When you work with a professional CV writer, what you save in time, effort, and 'trial and error applications' will be significant. In the same way that you would 'dress to impress' for an interview, your CV should be dressed to impress too.

4. You've never heard of an applicant tracking system

That's right, it's not just about impressing the recruiter anymore ‒ you also have to impress a computer program. (Who said this job-search business was easy?!) An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a software program that most employers and recruiters use to store and filter candidate data, including CVs. It allows a recruiter to create a shortlist by conducting a search for specific keywords without having to read every CV they receive. As a result, most recruiters only read 25 per cent of CVs they receive.

Enter the professional CV writer.

You may not know how to write a CV to pass an ATS, but your professional CV writer certainly does. They will format and write your CV with the ATS in mind, which means the chances of a recruiter actually reading your CV will get a whole lot higher.

5. You don't know how to sell yourself

It's not always easy talking about yourself. Unfortunately, when it comes to the job search, recruiters need to hear about your successes. If you don't feel comfortable talking about your achievements, or if you haven't mastered the art of bragging without actually bragging, then you should consider professional CV-writing help. A professional can walk that fine line and sell your past achievements, skills and successes the right way because let's face it, nobody likes a bragger.